COVID-19--Meg's Peru version

I have been asked by many, ‘What is COVID-19 like in Peru?’. So, here ya go. We are on our second 15-day government enforced quarantine. This means it is illegal to have anything but banks, grocery stores, and hospitals/pharmacies open. There is a curfew 8pm-5am. When you go on the streets there are a million police officers and military lining the streets. Masks are required in the grocery store, and they take your temperature before entering. Taxis are illegal to bring you to most houses. We have been this way for 2 weeks and have many more to go I am sure. (As well as the states I know!) I have left my house 2 times in 2 weeks to get food with my buddy, Davis. We haven’t had ‘to-go’ food options. We haven’t gotten to ‘social distance’ walk the streets, have bear hunts, or write fun chalk sayings. Everything is virtual (as y’all in the states). Not to say ‘poor us’, but to say that it's no walk in the park. (Of which we can't do-HA!)

Davis and I. Oh the joys of face masks. 

We ran into our buddy, Lourdes!

I have been very confused of how I feel. The media, people, social media; so many things influence it, so I am constantly changing. The ‘old’ me would have crashed-hard-at a time like this. So, the fact I am still just doing my thing- blows my mind. I was telling Jenni how another month virtual is going to be soul crushing. She ‘pointed out’ I said that a month ago about March; that I was not going to be able to handle it. But look, here we are end of the month; I am not hanging on for dear life. Guess all that money we (you) spent on therapy finally paid off, huh dad?

Virtual Spanish class is kinda fun.

A lot of my confusion comes from the fact that the ‘other half’ of me was recently taken away, running. I developed Plantar Fasciitis almost 2 weeks ago, so I have not been able to run (much less walk) the last 2 weeks. When will I be able to? A question I don’t think about. It is a new level of quarantine! I am learning a heckuva lot that could only be learned if this happened. I know God has a plan, so I am at peace with this drastic life change amidst a worldwide pandemic.

Where I spend a lot of my day, teaching.

That’s not to say that I don’t feel the emotions that come with it; it’s to say that I am not ambushed by them. I have felt random sadness over missing my friends stateside, while never wanting to leave my new home in AQP. It’s nice that it is simply sadness, and not depression; Jesus is sure providing. I miss the teachers, my students, going in the streets at this point. I have more anxiety than anyone you know probably. Praise the LORD for modern medicine is all I have to say. I have had moments of enjoying teaching from my bed, getting to ‘sleep in’ a little. I have found joy in things I took for granted. I have been overwhelmed for the brokenness in the world. But mostly, I feel grateful for being in AQP.

Virtual teaching; they keep me on my toes.

Oh my heart.

I feel grateful for the lack of fear foods for such a time as this. I have food aversions here, but there is a stark difference. (Aversions are foods only in Peru, fears are the food in general.)  I feel grateful that when I see french fries and a frosty, my first thought is man that looks good. Or that I don’t even think about pouring all the olive oil or using all the ranch. (Renee’ I know those you understand my pride! Remember my days of measuring, and only buying ‘light’.) I feel grateful that this pandemic isn’t causing a relapse. Eating disorders suck, but good gracious without the struggle, the other side wouldn’t be as sweet.

Buying all the things.

My few days of running .03 miles around a small circle in my apartment complex.

Overall, I am doing better than I ever thought I would. All praise to Jesus for that, and no one else.

A rant I want to remember.

I started this as a Facebook post then quickly realized I wanted to remember this when re-reading blogs. I wanted to remember this crazy COVID-19 time; I want to remember our God moving, working, and doing all things for His glory-while the ruler of the world (Satan) is still ever-present.

I have a Bible reading buddy, Jess. Jess and I met at Fairhaven-what a lovely time for all. Spending all day in intensive therapy trying to seek recovery for our eating disorders. HA. Jess loves Jesus. We started reading a chapter a day together probably...what Jess? A year ago?
Anyways, I digress. Today we read Psalm 18:1-28. Verses 16-19 I am finding such comfort in, and thought everyone else needed to hear/see it. Lemme 'read' it for you below. What you need to know? This is a Psalm of David, where He is praising the Lord for rescuing Him from the hands of his enemies; from Saul.

'He reached down from heaven and rescued me.
He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me.
He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.'

Ok, so, what do I gain from this? I instantly thought of now; my buddies and I specifically battling eating disorders, depression, anxiety; the list of mental illnesses goes on. I am sure it's tough for 'normal' people, but when your brain is acting against you, it's a whole new level of tough.
BUT. GOD. WOW. He rescues His children. He rescued David. David was in some kind of trouble; there was one of him and a lot of the enemy. BUT. God was his support. He came for David when he was in such distress, and rescued him. They went for him at the jugular; when he was in such a weak point, but God was right there. God was in him, around him, and through him; He is the same with us as well. He led David to safety, and will lead us there-in time. We are in some deep, dark waters right now. Our world is sick; broken; suffering from the impacts of sin. BUT. God is right here. NOTHING happens beyond our God's approval.
This is not 'God's fault'. This is a result of the fall, just like every other bad thing; sickness, natural disasters, cancer, abuse; the list could go on. God still reigns. He still and will ALWAYS reach down and rescue His children. He draws us from the depths of despair. The world might be attacking all, but Satan is attacking God's children; telling us that we aren't enough, people don't love us anymore, we aren't going to make it; but-no. Christ is right here beside us the whole time.
So..reach out to your friend who struggles with x,y,z. Friends who do struggle? Reach out to your friends who know. I have learned, sometimes you have to help people- help you. I have done that and what a world of a difference it makes for my life. I am endlessly thankful to my friends who check on me; message, laugh, pray, video, complain, feel fear and give it to Jesus with me. I am thankful for technology. WOW. I am thankful that God's Word still is the most powerful thing on this planet. More than any other leader, country, and yes-sickness. Our world needs healing, but not just physically. Our world needs Jesus, and I pray that this draws more and more people to find and cling to Him because we can't cling to anything else, and He is the only One worth finding.

Forever and a day later

Well, next thing you know it's been too long since I've blogged. Guess those 13 hour days will get cha! But..it is an amazing experience. I don't feel myself crashing. I mean Saturdays I sleep basically the entire day, and I don't get to mega long run much, but it's worth it. I am loving Spanish class. I still make 4839874 mistakes, but can also understand more out in public so, I guess the general point of school is being accomplished. (Thanks Pao!! You da best teacher a girl could ask for. Even when I do not stop talking, you take it like a trooper!)

Renee' is the best. She sent me my stocking she got for me so I have it here now. With lots of my favorite things. 

Amy also sent me a Christmas package and her sweet kids made me this card.
This girl who misses her church kids more than words can express has a happy heart with this.

AnaLu was back for all of February and is here for March, praise the Lord. (I mentioned last blog she was gone for 2 weeks in January.) What a blessing it has been. We talk about well, everything. Right now we are focusing on where our worth is found. That-it's not in what we do, what we look like, what happens to us. Our worth is found in one thing-in what Christ says about us. What does He say? He says if you are in Christ you are His child; holy, blameless, free, loved unconditionally. We Christ followers are forgiven, cherished, given the fruit of the Spirit, loved. One thing is not saying saying Christ loves us comma, then following it with something, but Christ loves us- period. That's it. It's ironic because we are also talking about loving people that we aren't exactly fond of; to see them with Christ's eyes. What Truth. What conviction. Praise the Lord for internet so we can still meet virtually. We dive right in, and for that I am endlessly thankful for all the growth that is happening. 

Being outside with new friends is also its' own therapy.

I mean come on. The heavens scream of Him.

Fellow crazy American bud who just up and moved to Arequipa!

Jenni and I also do so much together (my killer dietitian). She has helped me overcome so many food aversions, and is helping me gain stability in my day-to-day life. She calls it how it is and let me tell you-I wouldn't take what she says from anyone else. But from her, I trust it all with my whole heart.

It's crazy because I doubted so much that I would have a good treatment team here. And God, yet again, has shown Himself over and beyond by blessing me with a treatment team that is perfect for me, and I am blown away continually that they are in my life for such a time as this.

I love my cycles at Cultural. I have had the pleasure to teach the graduating cycle the last 3 months. Though it is more work for me, it is so fun to go through all the emotions with them. I am so sad this months last cycle class has to finish virtually, but I show lots of fun videos (don't worry it relates!) and have a blast as much as possible on Google Classroom and Meet.

Friends like this girl who love Jesus, running, and teaching make this whole thing so much fun!

AKA 'the girls'. They insisted on taking me out for my birthday. My Cultural experience would be vastly different and way less fun without them to encourage me, and have fun!

I am avoiding the fact that my heart longs for more. My heart longs for community-the types I had in America. My friends who walked through my breakdown and just- know. My run buds. My church family. I guess it's time to actually miss it considering it's been 8 months. I adore Peru. I miss my community. I am learning those two things can co-exist, and I am thankful for that truth. I accept that if I left Peru it would be such a loss in my heart, yet I still long for my community back in Jackson-and that is ok; I can hold them simultaneously.

People like them make this whole community thing much more manageable. English

I also am trying to avoid the inevitable topic of the CoVid-19 because it is infiltrating our entire lives. So. In short. It's crazy. Close to how America is reacting yet completely different. We are under government enforced quarantine. That means nothing is open except banks, pharmacies/hospitals, and grocery stores. There is a curfew of no one on the streets 8pm-5am. Literally. The grocery store is crazy. People are crazy. Jobs are crazy. The end. (Cultural is virtual thankfully. What an experience that is. HA)

This is such an odd time to be alive, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here. I miss human contact, and can hardly wait for the day to reunite with my Cultural friends. Until then, kisses from afar.